Independence:
1 July 1960 (from a merger of British Somaliland, which became
independent from the UK on 26 June 1960, and Italian Somaliland,
which became independent from the Italian-administered UN
trusteeship on 1 July 1960, to form the Somali Republic)
National holiday:
Foundation of the Somali Republic, 1 July (1960); note - 26 June
(1960) in Somaliland
Constitution:
25 August 1979, presidential approval 23 September 1979
note: the formation of transitional governing institutions, known as
the Transitional Federal Government, is currently ongoing
Legal system:
no national system; Shari'a and secular courts are in some
localities
Suffrage:
18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed (since 14 October 2004); note
- a new Transitional Federal Government consisting of a 275-member
parliament was established in October 2004 but remains resident in
Nairobi, Kenya, and has not extablished effective governance inside
Somalia
head of government: Prime Minister Ali Muhammad GHEDI (since 24
December 2004)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the prime minister and approved by the
Transitional Federal Assembly
election results: Abdullahi YUSUF Ahmed, the leader of the Puntland
region of Somalia, was elected president by the Transitional Federal
Assembly
Legislative branch:
unicameral National Assembly
note: fledgling parliament; a 275-member Transitional Federal
Assembly; the new parliament consists of 61 seats assigned to each
of four large clan groups (Darod, Digil-Mirifle, Dir, and Hawiye)
with the remaining 31 seats divided between minority clans
Judicial branch:
following the breakdown of the central government, most regions
have reverted to local forms of conflict resolution, either secular,
traditional clan-based arbitration, or Islamic (Shari'a) law with a
provision for appeal of all sentences
Political parties and leaders:
none
Political pressure groups and leaders:
numerous clan and subclan factions are currently vying for power